Nitrous Oxide - how is laughing gas affecting drivers in the UK

Although it has many other names, its impact is being felt across the country.

This legal guide explains all you need to know about nitrous oxide and its impact on drivers.

What is nitrous oxide?

Nitrous oxide is a gas that is commonly used in medicine as a sedative and pain reliever, especially in dentistry and childbirth.

It also has industrial uses and is sometimes misused recreationally for its euphoric effects.

The gas is dangerous with repeated or excessive use.

What is it also known as?

For illegal use, nitrous oxide has several other names by which it is known.

These include ‘hippy crack’ and ‘laughing gas’, and they are inhaled from a gas cannister.

It is a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971.

How does nitrous oxide affect people?

Excessive use of nitrous oxide can lead to severe health consequences, including long-term neurological damage and, in some cases, death.

The primary risks of using laughing gas stem from the potential for unconsciousness and suffocation that people can suffer from its use.

When inhaled in large quantities, nitrous oxide displaces oxygen in the body, which can cause a dangerous lack of oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.

This oxygen deprivation can result in serious brain damage, loss of motor function, or even fatal asphyxiation.

Frequent use can lead to other health issues such as nerve damage and heart problems.

Is nitrous oxide road legal?

From 8 November 2023, the laws changed to make the punishment more severe for illegally possessing nitrous oxide.

The Government stated that those found in unlawful possession will face either an unlimited fine, a visible community punishment or a caution – which would appear on their criminal record.

Repeat serious offenders could face a prison sentence of up to two years, an unlimited fine, or both.

The penalty for supply or production will double, to up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both.

Does nitrous oxide show up on a breathalyser?

No, nitrous oxide does not appear on a breathalyser test very easily. This is because it does not stay in the body for very long.

Although there is no definitive time for the drug staying in a person’s body, the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) stated in February 2024 that ‘It appears that laughing gas was detectable in exhaled air for at least 60 minutes after recreational use’.

Will nitrous oxide show up in a blood test?

Inhaled nitrous oxide can be detected in blood – but similarly to breathalyser tests – it doesn’t stay in the bloodstream for very long.

The ETSC states that it can remain in the body for up to an hour.